Book Review - November by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Title: November
Author: Thomas Olde Heuvelt
Genre: Horror
Published: 2022
 
Description: Welcome to Lock haven, Washington, home to the happiest street in the world. A walk down Bird Street won’t feel unusual, except that all the residents are doing well. There are large houses, with beautiful cars. If you were to meet the residents, you would notice that they are all genuinely happy. They have successful careers or are doing exactly what they always wanted to do. They are all healthy, physicialy, mentally and spiritually. They are thoughtful, energetic, educated and generous. And their children? They are perfect. Each of them talented.
 
Until November comes. Luana and Ralph know it, and so do their children Kayla and Django. They live in the most modest of the five houses. Every year, November is the moment when their luck turns and they are struck by misfortune. There are the aches and pains, accidents, the financial setback. Periods of illness, mental confusion, and depression. Usually nothing insurmountable, but they better sit out November every year. After about four weeks, it passes and ultimate happiness returns… but only at a price. And every year, Luana and Ralph wonder if that price isn’t too high.
 
Review: Thomas Olde Heuvelt is a Dutch author, of whom I read “Hex” last year. That was a great, very scary book. “November” is a book about the happiest street in the U.S. The residents in this street live the perfect, flawless lives. At least, until November, because in that month things turn for the worse. In order to get the happiness back, they have pay a price.
 
The story is told from the perspectice of the four  members of the Lewis da Silva family: father Ralph, mother Luana, 15-year-old daughter Kayla and 10-year-old son Django. The chapters alternate between their POV’s. Through them you also learn more about the other residents od the street and their relationships with each other.
 
Olde Heuvelt has a very descriptive, very reminiscent of Stephen King. It’s very easy to picture Lock Haven. Trigger warnings for themes such as euthanasia, bipolar disorder, suicide, self-harm and death. The story is somewhat long-winded, but there is underlying tension. The weight that hangs over this street becomes heavier and heavier. And the feelings and actions of Bird Street become increasingly darker. The story drags on here and there, and the story is a bit too long for my taste. But it has an amazing twist at the end, that I did not see coming. I really like this author.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5